Regardless of the specific circumstances of their relationships, all couples experience ups and downs, issues and conflicts and a trained, licensed therapist or counselor can provide many useful approaches to help them. 
However, the one crucial thing a couple’s therapist or counselor must bring to working with gay couples is an awareness and deep sensitivity to what it’s like to live in larger communities that can be prejudiced and hateful.
In James Baldwin’s novel, Giovanni’s Room, he wrote: “There are so many ways of being despicable, it quite makes one’s head spin. But the way to be really despicable is to be contemptuous of other people’s pain.”
Supporting marriage equality for all LGBTQIA+ couples – regardless of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity – not only means supporting their right to be legally wed, but also supporting their lives post-marriage and the decisions that come with it.
Seeking gay couples therapy and counseling from Marriage Couples Counseling in NYC can help you and your partner find and establish the balance you are seeking to grow, deepen and nurture your relationship.
Why Seek a Gay Couples Counselor?
The reason most couples (both homosexual and heterosexual) seek relationship counseling – aside from needing help with issues – is to find out how they can focus on bettering their relationship with the resources they already have, and how they can find greater clarity in doing so. The way a couple communicates and fights, their history with relationships and their goals for their current relationship are important to consider.
Experienced couples’ counselors and therapists should not only encourage couples to express what they need and want from and their relationship. They should also be aware and sensitive to the many challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ couples.
Therapists should be unconditionally supportive as the couple works to deepen their experience of the richness and nuances of their sexualities and struggle for emotional intimacy.
Not only this, but they should be aware of gay couples dealing with their personal issues on top of the difficulties they face in building and nurturing their relationships living in a society that can be unaware and insensitive to LGBTQIA+ couples. The support of a qualified couples’ therapist or counselor can be crucial in coping with:
- One partner not being out
- Dealing with the challenge of homophobia from family, friends, work associates, etc.
- Adoption versus the considerable expense of IVF or employing a surrogate.
- Discovering and giving expression to the uniqueness of their sexuality.
Couples therapy can help you and your partner work through what may seem insurmountable problems. In our Marriage Couples Counseling sessions, we frequently use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which strives to encourage and deepen seven important conversations described by Sue Johnson in her book, Hold Me Tight. These include:
- Recognizing Demon Dialogues
- Finding the Raw Spots
- Revisiting Rocky Moments
- Hold Me Tight
- Forgiving Injuries
- Bonding through Sex and Touch
- Keeping Your Love Alive
Counseling for Gay Couples in NYC
At Marriage Couples Counseling in New York City, we have over 80 years of collective experience working with couples and families of all ages, sizes, shapes and colors from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds.
No matter what situation you and your partner may find yourselves in, our couples’ counselors and therapists are here to help you in a respectful and sensitive manner. Learn how to love smarter in your relationship. If you and your partner are looking for gay couples in New York City, call Marriage Couples Counseling NYC today at 212-673-4618 for a free phone consultation.